The Floor

Victoria Komova (Russia) at the 2012 Olympics

The floor originated as a 'free form' excercise for men. Women werent allowed to compete on floor until 1948.
Gymnasts compete on the floor by performing a specially choreographed routine made of leaps, tumbles, and dancing, that moves all over the floor area. The floor is square in shape, and sprung underneath.
Womens floor routines are up to 90 seconds long, and are always performed to music.

Scoring

Gymnasts are scored on a number of different things;
The difficulty of the tumbling and leap series they perform,
How well they perform the moves,
Artistry in the dancing,
How well the routine relates to the music

International routines

Routines can include up to four tumbling lines, and several dance elements, turns and leaps. A floor routine must consist of at least:

• A passage of dance with at least two different leaps or hopsOne acro line with two different saltos
• Salto forward/sideward and backward
• Salto with double BA and salto with LA (minimum 360°) turn
• Dismount (the final salto performed, although it doesn't have to be the final element)